Exemplar Lessons of How to Utilize Mathematical Discourse to Facilitate Learning

Abstract

Mathematical discourse is a crucial skill for students to develop if they wish to be successful in the classroom. Discourse allows students to freely present and share their ideas with the class as a whole. Through discourse, students can develop their content-specific knowledge while simultaneously developing their real-world collaboration skills. To establish a classroom culture where meaningful discourse can flourish, teachers should strive to fill the role of an experienced guide who facilitates the students’ learning and cultivates a nurturing and encouraging classroom environment for all students. Students need to feel that their thoughts and ideas are appreciated and respected in class for them to feel comfortable sharing. This curriculum project includes four non-sequential exemplar lessons across high school topics designed to integrate meaningful mathematical discourse into learning. The keys for student materials are in the appendix.